Besan Laddoo

Although I love Indian sweets, I usually wait for a festive occasion to make them make at home- preparing sweets seems far too time-consuming and labor-intensive to do so otherwise.

These besan laddoos made in the microwave are an exception, though, and take less than 15 minutes to make, from start to finish. I first noticed the recipe on Tee's blog, Bhaatukli, a few years back and I’ve been following her method ever since. Since this is such a fuss-free recipe, I make these laddoos every now and then without even waiting for a special occasion.

Please refer to Tee's post for detailed instructions on making these laddoos.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
• ¾ cup + 2 tsp sugar
• 8-10 Tbsp ghee
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• A handful of raisins

Method:
In a microwave-safe bowl, mix together the besan and ghee. Cook the mixture in the microwave for 6-8 minutes stirring and mixing every 45 seconds or so. As the besan roasts, it turns a darker shade of yellow and becomes fragrant.

When the besan is cooked and while the mixture is still hot, add the sugar, cardamom powder and a handful of raisins and mix well. Shape into small balls. Store in an airtight container.